Policymakers should prioritize the demographic health of communities facing aging populations, labour shortages and long-term population decline, writes PPF Fellow David Campbell. Many smaller communities are struggling to attract and retain workers which could erode local services, businesses and infrastructure despite potential gains in GDP per capita. He calls for Canada to target annual population growth of at least 1.5% and direct more immigration to communities that are prepared to welcome and support newcomers to promote long-term economic and community sustainability. “Ultimately, we should ask ourselves a simple question: what is the purpose of economic growth? Surely it is to sustain vibrant communities with high-quality public services, modern infrastructure and a strong social safety net,” he writes.
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Canada’s rural population grew at four times the average pace of the past two decades. Source: Statistics Canada
Canada’s population growth continues unabated, even as concerns mount over the housing affordability crisis. The number of people living in the country jumped by almost 243,000 in the first quarter, by 1.3 million over the past 12 months, and now exceeds 41 million.
The influx of newcomers to Canada showed no sign of letting up, even as concerns mount over housing affordability.
